Relief Society Meeting Handout

Home Made Christmas Gift Ideas

Tips:

Get together with friends for a craft night. Split the cost

of items to make it more affordable. Share tools ie. Punches, cricuts,

silhouettes, cartridges, sewing machines, rotary cutters, inks, stamps, etc…….. When

getting together in groups this also allows you to purchase some items in bulk. This also cuts down the costs.

When gathering ideas blog stalk! Here are some of my favorite stalking victims. ( this are not all strictly craft blogs…some have inexpensive home décor ideas as well!)

· Thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com

· Eighteen25.blogspot.com

· Thehouseofsmiths.blogspot.com

· Skiptomylou.org

· Centsationalgirl.blogspot.com

· Tipjunkie.com

Pinterest is a great website. Think of it as a virtual bulletin board. You create boards were you then “pin” photos that are links to websites with instructions on how to create that item. You can create boards for decorating, food, crafts, style, etc. It is also like facebook or twitter in that you can find friends to “follow.” It also allows you to re pin what others have found online. You can also create a “pinit” button for your toolbar that allows you to pin something to a board while you are prowling the Internet.

Craft Fairs! Many of the ideas I have shared came from a friend and I attending local church craft fairs! Many times you will see something that you could create yourself at a fraction of the cost! If able make a mental note, come home and google it! Odds are on someone, somewhere out there as made on and posted a tutorial on how to do it!

More Neighbor Gift Ideas

Gifts in a jar.

This website, www.mixesinajar.com, has a ton of ideas of things to put in a jar as a gift! Jars aren’t just for jams and jellies anymore! There are soup mixes, hot chocolate, BBQ sauce, spice

mixes, dip mixes, spiced cider packets, candles made in a jar, etc. Great site! You can also make

salsa and give the recipe as well as a bag of tortilla chips! I also just saw someone that had rolled

up an apron, placed it inside of a jar and then attached some of their favorite recipes! So Cute and personal!

M&M Poem!
Give a bag of M&M’s wrapped in ribbon with the following poem attached.

Visit this site for the poem as well as a free printable!




I also found a great blog post from a lady from www.howdoesshe.com, Click here to link to her post about 30 great neighbor gift ideas.

Tipjunkie.com also has a slew of adorable neighbor gift ideas, click here to be linked up to that web page!

More Teacher Gift Ideas

*click the links for a tutorial

Decoupage a clipboard with scrapbook paper, as well as a customized note pad to go with it!

Decoupage clothespins and add a magnet to the back

Decoupage binder clips for a customized desk set!

Make a beaded pen set!

How about a reusable cup filled with mini crystal light packets with a straw topper that reads "Thank You for quenching my thirst for knowledge!" Click here for a link to a free download of the straw topper! I also know that those reusable cups can be expensive! Try Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls to find them. I have found them for 1/2 off what they are in other big box stores!

How about creating a crayon monogram or crayon wreath! Very inexpensive with a trip to the local dollar store!

Here are the other Links to tutorials on the other items I showed you this evening!

place mat bag

( this tutorial is a bit more intensive then what I showed...but the basics are there in case you needed a refresher!)

crayon roll

Glass etching

The felt flower that I made came from here, this is also where you will dind a video on how to create the flower! It is a very good how to video! The template for cutting out the flower can be found here!


Hope these tips and links help you with your Christmas gift giving!

If you have any other questions or comments feel free to email me at rpostler@yahoo.com or give me a call!

New York! New York!

Over Spring Break Sierra and I had the awesome opportunity to visit New York City with my Mom. Sierra has been dying to go and visit the American Girl Doll Store, climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty, and see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway! Sierra and I were so blessed and lucky enough to have my Mom treat us to such an amazing trip. It was amazing, exciting, and we made so many memories! ( Sierra at the American Girl Store in New York!)

First off, we were able to stay with a dear friend, Veronique, who lives in Brooklyn. Everyday we were able to take a bus, a subway, and sometimes a taxi into and out of the city. I know that Sierra felt like a real New Yorker staying in a real New York apartment, and "commuting" into Manhattan every day. She was able to see, hear, and smell New York the way a true New Yorker does. I simply love those kinds of vacations, where you immerse yourself in a city and view it as a local, and I am thrilled to learn that my daughter does too! Sierra was a pro on those subways and buses. As a matter of fact she was falling asleep on the subway 3 days in...just like any New Yorker does! :)

( Sierra looking very New York on the subway!)

Another highlight of staying over in Brooklyn was getting to see and experience parts of the city most tourists don't have the time to see. It helps when you have two New Yorkers to show you around. Veronique and her then Fiance, now husband John hung out with us 2 of the days we were there. Vero and John came with us to eat soup dumplings in China town at Joe's Shang Hi, took us for ice cream at the Brooklyn Creamery under the Brooklyn Bridge, and introduced us to an awesome Italian restaurant just off of Times Square. We visited Times Square, shopped at P.S. Aeropostle, and rode the Ferris Wheel at Toys R Us in Times Square. The best part was that John had a Car, so we were able to see and do New York Via car. A rarity, and so much fun to drive over the Brooklyn Bridge into China Town!

(Me, my mom, Veronique, and Sierra with our awesome matching sunglasses overlooking Time Square!)

(Sierra with the New York Skyline behind- from the Brooklyn side.)

(Sierra with the Brooklyn bridge behind her.)

(My Mom, me and Sierra with the AMAZING Brooklyn Creamery behind us. Best Ice Cream!)

We were able to see 3 Broadway plays while we were there: Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliott, and Mary Poppins. All 3 were amazing.

We also visited Central Park. Sierra wanted to walk around Central Park, especially to see where they shot the singing number from the movie Enchanted. Central Park is beautiful, and we were lucky that the weather worked for us and it was a warm and beautiful day. We also saw many other sights while in New York......

(Bethesda Fountain, where they shot Enchanted- sans water.)

(Sierra with the bubble guy in central park.)

(Rockefeller Center...and a taping of the Today Show.)

(Swatch the dog at Mood Fabrics. "Thank You Mood!")

(GG and Sierra in Times Square.)

(GG and Sierra in Central Station. )

We also visited the Statue of Liberty, and even had crown tickets! Only 240 people a day access the crown. It was awesome. I did not go to the top. This 28 week old pregnant lady was not walking up 600 stairs, most of which were more like a ladder then a staircase. But, I am proud to say that I walked up 240 of them. I must say that I did not think that it would be

as awesome and inspiring as it was standing inside the Statue of Liberty! I was moved! She is stunning, both as a work of art and a work of engineering. Seriously Breathtaking! Sierra and my Mom did make it to the crown, and Sierra and my Mom both loved it! It was another beautiful day and we really enjoyed ourselves.While we were down in the Battery Park area we also visited Ground Zero. It is amazing to see all the progress that is being made in that area, as well as all the plans that are set into place. It was a touching moment. I also loved this statue that was moved to Battery Park. It is the statue that was outside of the 2 towers on September 11th. They simply moved it, damaged and all to battery park. A somber and touching remembrance of what occurred on that day.

We had such a great time in such an Amazing city! We did so much in our 5 days there. I was so impressed with Sierra. With all the walking she never complained once. It was joyous to make such sweet memories with my Mom and my sweet daughter. I can't wait to do it again! Love You both!!!!

Updates and Angry Birds

I saw a friend yesterday in Joanns, HEY KATIE!!, and realized that I am M.I.A.

It's not that I'm not doing anything, it's just I'm not doing anything that I feel the need to write about.

Things are, well.....mundane.

Which is nice.

I am sure come June I will be looking back fondly on these last few months.

But, for the sake of not being uber-boring I will blog a few highlights.

Sierra is super excited about her 11th birthday and her up and coming trip to NEW YORK CITY, both are happening in March. She is busy planning, planning, planning. My Mom and I will be accompanying her and we are all very excited. She (we) are also busy working on her Science Fair Project. Recently she also started becoming aware of brands and certain stores that we must shop at for clothes, shoes, and accessories. Basically, we have entered the world of American Eagle, Aeropostle, and Hollister. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Logan has begun singing... a lot. His favorites: Firework by Katie Perry, You're Beautiful by Bruno Mars, and his song....Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas. Don't judge.....
He has also adopted a new saying of mine.... "Are you serious?" or "Serious!?!" He has the most perfect timing with it too. Like the following example.

Me: "Logan it is time to pick up your Thomas Trains."
Logan: "Serious?"

It is one of my favorite things.

One of all of our favorite things is the I-touch that Paul got me for Christmas. We have downloaded various, music, apps and videos. I am telling you all....it is the greatest invention EVER. Grocery shopping has never been so good. On the down side we are all addicted to Angry Birds. There is nothing like watching your 4 year old giggle with glee as he "killed a piggie." It's not pretty...but we're bonding.

Paul and I are very excited about our new SLR camera that we got for Christmas and we are trying to figure it out. It takes practice.

We are also trying to figure out how we are going to fit this new baby into our 3 bedroom home and who will be bunking with whom. Logan and Sierra are currently having nightly "sleepovers" in Logan's room on the pull out trundle. So, we are thinking of putting the two of them together with bunk beds. They seem excited about the idea. We are wondering if the age difference is too much? 10 and 4 1/2. We just don't know.

Paul's birthday is on Monday and we are also having our 20 week ultrasound that day as well. Paul was excited to have them on the same day. I thought that was sweet, and my parents will be in town for the event. It's pretty much awesome all around. It will be a great day. And, to answer the question..... we are finding out and, YES! we will let everyone know.

Life is good. We are enjoying our ever depleting time as a 4 person family....and loving every minute of the vast and fast changes that are happening. :)

Missing in Action.

I haven't blogged in a while.

I've been tired.

I've been nauseous.

I've been hormonal.

Luckily 2 out of 3 have passed.

I'm in my 12th week of pregnancy and finally feeling like I may be able to eat a full meal without wanting to donate it to the porcelain god.

I am so happy to be exiting my first trimester. The 2nd trimester is always my favorite!

We will find out the sex of the baby the end of January, sometime around Paul's birthday!

Until then, we are just beyond grateful and excited for Baby Ostler #3 to make it's appearance some time around June 10, 2011!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween was great this year!

Logan wanted to be Shamu. {shocking}

and Sierra decided on Big Bird.

The cutest little animals out there!

Happy Halloween!

As a note: I did make Logan's costume. I did not make Sierra's costume this year.

Hell Froze Over!

We have had this conversation many times, but let's have it once more okay?

I don't bake.

Don't do it.

For example: A month ago I tried to make place and bake cookies, and I tried my hat at Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls.

The result: I burnt the cookies, and my rolls burnt and stuck to my sheet pan. Yes, I "pamed."

Hence why I say, " I don't bake."

Don't feel too bad. I have other talents. My family doesn't starve. I can cook.

I have heard that many times it's an either or thing. You cook or you bake.

I cook.

Anyway, at Enrichment they were having a cupcake decorating class. HAHA!

I wasn't going to go, but then I decided I should. Besides, my failure could make someone else feel WAY BETTER about themselves, and I'm always game to make myself look like an idiot.

I went.

Here is where the "Hell freezing over" part comes in.

After it was all said and done, mine didn't look like crap. As a matter of fact, the decorating was super cute, super easy, and super gratifying.

I just had to document, for posterity:

What!?! I made that. Yes I did.

See, not all perfect. But for me that is a solid effort.

Scrumptious.

Now all I need to do is learn how to make and bake a cupcake.

Thanks Trisha for making this fun, and do-able. That is a gift. :)

Soul Food

I have blogged before about musical artists that I find, so I figured why not do it again.

I am currently obsessed with this one, Mindy Gledhill.

If you read the NieNiedialogues you know who this is.

It was through Nie Nie that I was reacquainted with Mrs. Gledhill. Before that I had the privilege of hearing one of her religious songs during Relief Society. This CD is her first non-religious CD.

So, OF COURSE I had to check it out.

Let me tell you........It is AMAZING!!!

I love it.

It fills me with joy.

It feeds my soul. ( with fewer calories than Mac & Cheese) and

It makes me cry tears of pure happiness.

Go here to preview her CD and/or download a free single.

In my opinion it's perfection.